This encyclopedic guide to the world of classical music contains biographies of more than 1500 composers and performers, with vital statistics and album recommendations. Here you will find Beethoven, Vivaldi, Callas, and Heifetz, of course, but also unexpected entries like Brian Eno (for ambient music, which influenced the Minimalist movement and modern spiritualists like Arvo Part and John Tavener) and Pete Townshend (for the rock opera Tommy). Along with 4,000 descriptions of composers' works—including operas, symphonies, concertos, and ballets—and 12,000 recommended recordings, the guide includes 23 essays on classical music's major eras, forms, and genres, and sections on choral works, songs, keyboard works, chamber music, and film scores.